‘Tracy Morgan: Staying Alive’ Comedy Special Review

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May 12, 2017

Earnest And Hilarious, Tracy Morgan Proves He’s ‘Staying Alive’!

Things got pretty insane for comedian Tracy Morgan in the past few years. A year after his hit show ‘30 Rock‘ left television, Tracy Morgan was hit by a Walmart truck. This accident left him severely injured and killed one of his close friends. But none of that has stopped the man from telling the story with his unique brand of humor. In ‘Tracy Morgan: Staying Alive‘, Morgan doesn’t hold anything back and it’s a good thing he didn’t!

The set opens up with exactly what the audiences is thinking: “when will he talk about the Walmart accident?”. Tracy Morgan wastes little time, diving right into the hot topic. He makes a fun jab about thankfully it was Walmart and not a “Barb’s Discount Furniture” truck. He continues with the Walmart-themed jokes by saying he didn’t stop shopping there after the accident because “who could beat their low prices?”. Also loved the joke about everything going up a penny after this massive settlement. Something about this moment reminded me a lot of ‘Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip‘. That epic show came a few years after Richard Pryor’s freebasing accident and he dived right into it. Hearing Tracy Morgan deliver such a funny take on such a harsh reality is refreshing. It’s a perfect example of being able to laugh at yourself, even in the darkest of times.

Tracy Morgan Live at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ. (Photo courtesy of Netflix)

Things got a little messy for ‘Tracy Morgan: Staying Alive‘ when he touched on the popular subject of the Kardashian clan. This bit got a few laughs with Morgan joking about the family multiplying from 3 to 6 during his coma. And then he got to the topic of Caitlyn Jenner. After making an “anti-gay rant” in 2009 that offended the LGBT community, it got uncomfortable as Tracy Morgan went on about having sex with the trans woman Caitlyn Jenner. None of it was outright transphobic but it’s something that should’ve been cut out. It’s lazy shock humor that didn’t add anything to the overall show.

Thankfully, he didn’t stay on this topic for too much. After that small cringe-worthy dip, things kept up the pace and remained the perfect amount of politically incorrect humor with some heartfelt moments. Hearing Tracy Morgan’s unique outlook on his injuries and the long road to recovery turns out to be a compelling story of willpower. One of my favorite moments from the entire show was the bit about Tracy Morgan learning to re-walk while his 16-month old daughter is learning to walk. He said it’s a moment that bonded them for life and you can’t help but smile.

One of the main themes of ‘Tracy Morgan: Staying Alive‘ is his relationship with his wife. From their new marriage to her being by his side during recovery, this was another example of emotion and humor blending together. This set also paints a picture of his wife being a stern but compassionate soul.

Final Thoughts:

Part of why ‘Tracy Morgan: Staying Alive‘ works so well is the amazing comeback story. Seeing Tracy Morgan put tragic years behind him and move forward with this comedy special speaks volumes to his spirit.

But this doesn’t get praise because of a sympathy story. The humor is on brand for the comedian but feels different this time around. Things are still raunchy and offensive but it doesn’t seem malicious and there are some positive messages sprinkled throughout.

‘Tracy Morgan: Staying Alive‘ debuts on Netflix on May 16th, 2017!

Will you be tuning in? Let me know in the comments below!

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New Mutants Casts Maisie Williams And Anna-Taylor Joy

By

Jonathan Bruce

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May 11, 2017

The New Mutants movie is on its way. What’s more, it has two of its members.

Maisie Williams and Anna Taylor-Joy have been cast, according to a report.

The Hollywood Reporter confirms Williams is playing Wolfsbane, who is a popular character in the comics. She has the ability to turn into a wolf. Wolfsbane struggles to embrace her lupine powers, because they come into conflict with her religious beliefs.

Taylor-Joy will play Illyana Rasputin, who is also known as Magik. In the comics, she is a powerful mutant and the sister of Colossus. As her name suggests, Magik has powers of sorcery and teleportation.

Williams is best known for her role as Arya Stark on HBO’s Game Of Thrones. Taylor-Joy rose to fame for her work in The Witch. Most recently, she has a main role in Split.

The plot focuses on a teenage group of X-Men coming to terms with their powers. Other characters include Cannonball, Moonstar, Sunspot, and Warlock. Fox wants the project to have a Young Adult tone in the vein of The Hunger Games. Josh Boone will direct the film, and he shares screenwriting duties with Knate Lee.

In 1982, the New Mutants made their debut in the Marvel Universe. They quickly became popular and soon began starring in their own series. The series is notable for being the first spin-off of the X-Men comics. For three decades, the team has been a mainstay in the X-titles, and they have come in various rosters over the years.

James McAvoy is said to be appearing in the film as Professor X, but it will be a supporting role. Alexandra Shipp is thought to be reprise her X-Men role as Storm.

New Mutants will come out on April 13, 2018.

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‘Steven Universe’ Scores Big With I Am My Mom

By

Anthony Wendel

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Steven tries to fix his mistakes.

SPOILER ALERT

It’s hard to talk about this episode without mentioning spoilers as so much plot occurs in the course of it. Luckily these are the best type of episodes when it comes to Steven Universe because it means events have consequence.

It’s revealed the Diamonds sent Aquamarine and Topaz to personally recruit for the zoo and it was based off a list Steven accidently gave out. This moment where he feels as if the entire thing is his fault pushes him to take more responsibility than ever before. He steps forward and finds a way to save the day but at a great cost. This is what truly makes watching this show from the beginning so worthwhile. By watching every episode the evolution of Steven as a character is notable and appreciated. It also goes to show when episodes do take a much lighter tone so late in the series they are not as welcome compared to an episode of this caliber.
It’s also shown how malicious Aquamarine is as an antagonist. Unlike previous enemies the Crystal Gems have come across who prefer to just settle things with their fists, Aquamarine is willing to use the lives of her hostages as leverage to keep Steven and his team under control. It’s painfully obvious she would have no qualms about destroying them if it meant accomplishing her mission.

There also is a moment worth mentioning where Lars has a chance to be a hero but misses it. This is distinctly pointed out and will be probably be addressed next season. Yes, this episode serves as the ending for the fourth season of show. It ends on a moment fans will be talking about for a while. Luckily more new episodes are scheduled for the end of the month so the wait for more Steven Universe won’t be excruciating.

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‘Steven Universe’ Rises Up By Asking ”Are You My Dad?”

By

Anthony Wendel

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People start disappearing from Beach City and Steven investigates.

The foreshadowing from previous episodes finally comes forward. As people keep disappearing from all around Beach City, a new Gem appears and asks “Are you my dad?” Could she be related to recent events? You better believe it.

This new Gem is called Aquamarine, who has an indeterminate power. The aqua part of her name makes it seem like she will have water based powers complete with fairy like wings which do look water based. Unfortunately, her weapon of choice is something else entirely. Her hair bow turns into a magic wand and seems to create a beam which freezes her enemies into place much like Syndrome from the Incredible. So maybe her power is gravity based or just pure energy? Again hard to tell with the little we are given.

She is accompanied by a Topaz fusion which is serving has both muscle and as a prison for stealing the residents of the city. This character says nothing and seems to be like a Jasper or Amethyst and is by nature an enforcer. Again, hopefully more of this character will be revealed later. Still, the seeds of interest are indeed planted in this episode.

The Crystal Gems were quick to remind the audience Gems don’t have dads but suggest there being another Gem/Human Hybrid as a possibility. Maybe they are bringing this up to put the thought in the audience’s head to look forward to in future episodes. Or it could be a red herring and lead nowhere. Only time will tell.

The show introduces a real threat and is moving forward with the home world storyline. This is what we need. The war between the Gems and Earth can’t be delayed much longer. Keep up the action and drama from here on out Steven Universe.

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Doom & Wasp Take Over ‘Avengers’ #7

By

Brandon J. Griffin

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May 11, 2017

Now that all the Kang time traveling adventures are over, writers Mark Waid & Jeremy Whitley begins the next chapter. Avengers #7 sees Doom and Wasp take center stage.

***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***

Victor Von Doom bails the Avengers out of a magical threat. Nadia Pym (Wasp) shares her obsession and admiration for Doom’s scientific achievements. Doom enlists the team for a collaboration in order to stop a magical occurrence happening at a teenage Girl Scout camp.

Doom continues his mission to do right by the world, finally collaborating with other superheroes. Infamous Iron Man has been a really fun series, that spills over into this issue. With Marvel Legacy around the corner, they should get as weird as possible with Avengers before the “reset/not reset.”

This was another great issue for Nadia, she’s been a surprisingly enjoyable new character. Between Avengers and Unstoppable Wasp, the characterization may differ, but she’s consistently fun to read.

Now that this team of Avengers is more acquainted with each other, Waid & Whitley should be able to deliver more stories like this. Especially if Doom is to become a permanent member. They look great together in every panel, even with leaving Vision behind for this mission.

Mark Waid and Jeremy Whitley have a handle on these characters, achieving fun little moments through dialogue without taking up too much space on the page. This issue in particular was a tight, contained tale that’s cliffhanger teases the subject of the next arc.

The mysterious Avenger X seems to be returning from the grave. Just recently, Waid told the story of her origin and involvement with the team in Avengers #5.1, which is also a good read.

The art in this issue takes a different form from the first six issues. This new approach is more conventional for an Avengers title. The water color worked well for Kang’s excellent time travel adventures, but it was wise to tone it down for this. It’s still very much a different looking Avengers book compared to others from the past, one that should be celebrated.

Avengers #7 is well worth your time, it’s a nice and refreshing pallet cleanser after a long arc. Finally seeing Doom team-up with other heroes is a satisfying experience that I sincerely hope isn’t over.

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The Trailer For Netflix Original ‘Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King’ Debuts

By

EJ Moreno

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May 11, 2017

Hasan Minhaj Takes You Back To High School With ‘Homecoming King’

Fresh off hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Hasan Minhaj is coming out with a Netflix Original stand-up comedy special. In ‘Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King‘, the comedian gives humorous insight to very personal things. Talking about the nightmare situations like racism or high school, Minhaj finds the humor in it all. Using his experience as a Muslim American not only allows his comedy shine but tells a powerful story.

Check out the trailer below:

“Filmed at the Mondavi Center in Minhaj’s hometown of Davis, CA, the special draws on his experience as a Muslim American, as Minhaj of ‘The Daily Show’ riffs on racism, immigrant parents, prom night horrors and more.”

‘Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King‘ premieres May 23rd exclusively on Netflix!

Will you be checking out this stand-up comedy special? Let me know in the comments!

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‘The Shannara Chronicles’ Moves to Spike TV for Season 2

By

Michael Fromm

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May 11, 2017

It was confirmed today that the second season of The Shannara Chronicles, the popular fantasy series will air on Spike TV in the fall, shifting from MTV. The series is based on the best-selling fantasy book series by Terry Brooks, which debuted on MTV in 2016.

Season two takes place one year after the events of last season. The Four Lands are in chaos. The re-emergence of magic has the populace terrified, and an organization called The Crimson is hunting down magic users, using fear and intimidation to sow discord among the races.

Wil (Austin Butler), scarred by the loss of Amberle (Poppy Drayton) and his separation from Eretria (Ivana Baquero), has turned his back on his magical destiny to become a healer. But when a mysterious woman named Mareth (Malese Jow) saves Wil from a Crimson attack, he is forced to rejoin the fight.

At Spike TV, The Shannara Chronicle will join another show based on a work of literature, The Mist, an adaptation of the Stephen King novella, which debuts in June. Spike will use The Mist to introduce The Shannara Chronicles to its viewers, with an encore run of its first season airing Thursdays at 11 PM behind original episodes of The Mist, beginning June 29.

The Shannara Chronicles is created by Al Gough and Miles Millar based on the Shannara series of books written by Terry Brooks.

Are you ready to dive back into the world of Shannara? Discuss in the comments!

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Starz Picks Up ‘American Gods’ For A Second Season

By

Matthew Sardo

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May 11, 2017

Starz announced today, that ‘American Gods’ would return for a second season, according to Deadline.

Your prayers have been answered. #AmericanGods is returning for Season 2. #STARZ pic.twitter.com/QQ8Do9NpPH

— American Gods (@AmericanGodsSTZ) May 11, 2017

At this point, only two episodes have aired, but the first episode, ‘The Bone Orchard’ has reached 5 million viewers combined from all platforms. Season two is expected to debut mid-2018 with eight episodes.

Showrunners Bryan Fuller and Michael Green adapted Neil Gaiman’s work for the cable network.

“Bryan Fuller, Michael Green and Neil Gaiman have evolved the art form of television narratively, structurally and graphically with American Gods, and we’re thrilled to be working again with these artists as they continue to build the worlds and wars of the gods,” said Starz programming president Carmi Zlotnik said.

‘American Gods’ has an exceptional cast with Ian McShane, Ricky Whittle, Emily Browning, Orlando Jones, Pablo Schreiber, Yetide Badaki, Bruce Langley, Kristin Chenoweth and Crispin Glover.

The series has a Sunday night time slot on Starz.

Are you watching ‘American Gods’ or you don’t subscribe to Starz? Comment below.

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Fox Cancels Freshman Shows ‘Son of Zorn’ and ‘Making History’

By

Jon Barr - TV Editor

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May 11, 2017

Fox has cancelled two of its freshman comedy series. Son of Zorn and Making History have both been cut short. Son of Zorn was a He-Man-esque parody, while Making History was a time-travel sitcom. Son of Zorn starred SNL alum and Colossal star Jason Sudeikis. Making History starred Adam Pally (Happy Endings) and Yassir Lester (writer, Girls).

The cancellation of both series isn’t much of a surprise. Neither shows were runaway hits. Making History was specifically cut down to only nine episodes. Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the duo behind The Lego Movie, executive produced both series. The duo also produce The Last Man on Earth, a different Fox series. Interestingly enough, the Will Forte vehicle was picked up for a fourth season.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-TVyOqCkr0[/embedyt]

Fox is no stranger to canceling freshman series. Last year, the network got rid of many new series. Notable cancellations included Bordertown, Party Over Here, and The Grinder. The network is also canceling several dramas, like Sleepy Hollow and APB. Whenever a show isn’t a runaway hit, or garnering enough praise, the network is quick to slice it down.

Making History was part of the time travel television trend this year. The show hit on the same subject matter as dramas like Timeless, Frequency, and Time After Time. As it turns out, none of these shows are getting a second season. Whoever kicked off the trend is probably wishing they could go back in time and find a different premise for their show. At least Making History didn’t pit sexy H.G. Wells and Jack the Ripper against each other.

The cancelation of Son of Zorn is more disappointing. In this humble writer’s opinion, Son of Zorn deserved at least another season. Fox has many animated comedies that work, and Son of Zorn was hitting its stride by the end. Much like Last Man on Earth, the show also featured notable Saturday Night Live alumni. The Neilsen ratings for Son of Zorn were also nearly twice as high as Making History.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPnlQTi8heM[/embedyt]

Whether either show could have been as successful as Last Man on Earth is hard to say. But with strong creative teams, and growing momentum, neither show had reached its potential. It would have been nice to see both shows get more time. But hey, maybe Adam Pally can go back in time and get better ratings.

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2017, The Year of Reboots, Sequels and S**t

By

David Harada

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May 11, 2017

The movies, where our childhood dreams were born and our adulthood addiction is fed. Films, giving us our desires whether it be romance, drama, action, or the lot. Yet when did the film industry begin to get so dull and boring? Okay maybe those aren’t the right words, but when was their imagination stifled? Read with us as we take a look at how films have deteriorated in the year 2017.

32/51

32/51, what does this mean? Well look up “Movies of 2017” in Google and count how many of the top movies are either reboots, sequels, or prequels. These numbers are only what I can recognize as well, it could be much higher. Why is this important you may ask? Look at it this way, when Hollywood recognizes trends the same movies get produced. The Fast and Furious franchise hasn’t died yet because of this and gets another movie this year. So where do we draw the line? The fact is, we haven’t. Until the public stops indulging Hollywood, nothing changes.

The Cashcow

Yeah, I get it, everyone loves action. Everyone loves heroes too, so let’s just rattle these movies off year after year. Don’t get me wrong, they are not all bad, but how many of them hit the mark too? Let’s face it, diehard fans will always go to watch Marvel, DC, and sometimes anime feature films. But with the release of a sub-par Ghost in the Shell, it begs the question as to whether or not directors want to retell these famous stories, or make it their own? Let’s face it, 9/10 (maybe an exaggeration) we dive into the movies for the title or the names behind it. When do we demand a higher level of perfection behind the story though? The answer has to be now. If we don’t take a stand, sub-par may become the new standard.

The Verdict for 2017 Film

2017 might need to be the year things change. Graphics and CG simply don’t cut it anymore because a lack of depth ruins it. Disney lovers will watch the new Live-Action re-boots. Marvel fanatics will watch the sequels. What we need isn’t reinventions of what we already loved, instead we need new content to love. Some of the biggest studios are turning to these options too. (Disney, Pixar, etc.) Overindulging these studios needs to end so cinema can push forward and truly entertain us once more.

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